mint

Fittersmate, thank you very much; that was super helpful and I feel reasonably informed and competent to discuss our requirements with the opticien later this afternoon. Norman, you don't say whether you had those glasses before or after the "new" remboursements? Perhaps you opted for the gold-plated frames?[:D][:D][:D]  Hmm....I bet you look mega "cool" in your glasses?

Well, so much for having lived years in France....obviously still no idea of how remboursements for glasses work[+o(] So, having done my "research" by talking to a few French friends, I got the idea that you could now have your glasses including "verres progressives" free. So, appointments made, we turned up at the glasses shop, only to be told that that shop does not work within the reseau for Itelis ( our mutuelle is with this Itelis).  After establishing that we would not be getting a reprise, I said we didn't want their service but would they recommend a shop that does work with Itelis?  To be fair to the shop assistant, she telephoned another shop in town (with the same name as her shop, just another branch) and made us RVs for this afternoon. All this has made me thoroughly confused.  So, can someone explain to me briefly how the remboursements work and what they have had to pay (rough sum if you don't wish to say) for their glasses with varifocals? All info more than gratefully received...thank you.

Thank you, Judith and pomme....believe me, I so appreciate your untiring patience[kiss] When I have been fortified with a spot of lunch and returned from our visit to the opticiens, I will have a go.  If all else fails, I will print out the forms, following your links, pomme.  I'd better not start clearing cookies and doing clever stuff like that because the chances are that I'd not succeed, being less than what you might call efficient in this department. Should I need to do paper forms, I could point them to my emails and unsuccessful attempts at getting any sort of help.  Thank goodness for emails with their proof of date and time of sending[:D] I must say I am a bit surprised that I did NOT encounter this sort of problem last year and that no one else on the forum seems to have had to deal with this either.

Talk about adding insult to injury! Today, I went to the local tax office and it was closed despite the fact I called during supposed "opening" hours.  Rang them for outside the door and the recorded message referred me to the Nontron office.  Not only is this Nontron office miles away, it also did not answer the phone. Came home and looked at my messagerie.  I had sent them 2 messages, one to explain the problem and the second to ask for a RV as they hadn't replied to message one.  Sure enough, there were 2 answers. The answers were totally unhelpful because they both accused me of having ticked box 8TT "vous avez dû....".  Well, wouldn't I have known whether I ticked that blasted box?  The second message went on to say that they were unable to give me a RV and that if I needed further help, I would have to send them another message and they would ring me! I have now wondered whether I could print out all the forms and refill by hand and send them off with an explanatory note?  Is that possible?  Pomme, may I prevail on your patience yet again? I don't want to do this but am keeping it up my sleeve in case I get no further with the foncs.

I put my hand up and admit to advertising our house "bathed in glorious sunshine"[:)] In the past, I have sold 2 houses, 1 in the UK and 1 in France.  I always take lots of photos when the sun is shining and the garden is looking lovely.  In fact, I have many photos of our present house showing it off at its best....just for that day when we might want to sell it (you never know) I don't see any great problem with doing that.  After all, if I were a fruit n veg seller, I'd put the best looking specimens at the top of the piles.  Doesn't everybody do that?  It's up to potential purchasers to root around and come to look when it's pouring with rain or the wind is howling in a landscape as bleak as a nuclear winter. Also, I keep in my photo files, the one occasion in the last 12 years when we had snow.  So I do have pictures of the house looking remote and glacial but gorgeous.  Depends on what the purchaser wants, doesn't it? Sellers do their best to sell the package that they think the purchaser wants.  The trick is to try and tease out what it is that they do want.  If what you have to offer is not what is being looked for, then it's best just to put a stop to the process, saving both parties time and frustration. As for your house hunt, Lori, you can at least be reassured that you will be "in situ" as it were to have lots of time to look around and do the research as you are doing now. Good Luck!  Hope you find the one[:)]

For about a decade, I wore lots of elasticated waists.  Now I have banned them! They were so comfortable and hid so much that I had no incentive to keep in shape.  Since I have stopped wearing any sort of elasticated waisted anything, I have rediscovered my waist!!  Yes, it's been there all the time but it does require a bit of work and self-sacrifice to keep it. But the joy of looking at the unused notches on your belts makes up for all the hard work.  In fact, I took a tentative sip at a glass of wine on my birthday (first sip this year and first sip since the very first lockdown in spring of last year) and blimey, it tasted so strong, I couldn't finish the glass[:-))] OTOH, I made a huge fruit cake for OH's birthday earlier this month and a huge chocolate cake for my birthday just before the weekend and they tasted extra yummy!  But for the fact that I gave some cake to my neighbours and saving some for my new bestie, we would have finished the lot all by ourselves!  Nothing as nice as being self-indulgent after all?[:D]

Hospitals and shopping....yup, I can relate to that[:)] I do like to look my best when I have hospital appointments though because I don't want to look ill!!!  I like to cheer up my consultants because I reckon they must get pretty depressed seeing all their really ill patients and, of course, losing a fair few [+o(] I wear nice clothes, have my best accessories, scarves, handbags, shoes or boots.  Also have a lovely, stylish but practical choice of underwear....er....that last only applies to those who need to undress[:D] It's also about the only time I might wear a light, flowery scent.  That's to give them a change from hospital smells and disinfectants[I] You think I'm mad?  Yup, can agree with that too....ha! ha! ha!

Judith, I guess it's something different to do as much as anything else.  I walk and do pilates daily but it is mostly the same old walks near our village and the pilates is different videos that I can find on line.  My regular pilates class is on zoom but I find that tiresome.  Seems to me that the teacher shouts out all the same sorts of instructions all the time. That's also why I am in leggings and t-shirts and fleeces all the time; can't be bothered to change for walks and pilates.  Have not visited others (only the lady doing my curtains) and have not had people come for meals. Id, I agree that most people do look better with light make-up and I myself feel better with a bit of make-up on.  Not different but just subtly better.  Of course, I never wear make-up walking or for pilates; no point as for both activities I get hot and sweaty. When my stuff comes, I will try it on and let you all know how I find it[:)]

I have read it's the young people nowadays that are rolling up for the jab, Pfizer, AZ, they don't care.  In fact, some have confessed that they are pretending that they have comorbidities in order to get the jab. They say they want to travel, go to events, get back to normal life......so all the government's fears of vaccine scepticism have proved unfounded[:)]

Id, I wasn't thinking of spending that amount!  If it was on offer, it would be a different matter.  Besides, since chimio, my skin is rather dry than greasy or even normal. I have now picked a primer that is a colourless jelly and 2 foundations, one liquid and one powder.  I used to use a brilliant foundation that is in a powder compact but you have to use a sponge and some water and it turns into en effect like a powder. Nowadays, I also like some sun protection because what I really don't like is using sun screen on my face.  I do when I go out walking but certainly not when I wear make-up.  Like you, I have passed on the lipstick.  Out of curiosity, I tried a light pink lipstick on the other day, just to remind myself what I used to look like and TBH lipstick looked just weird and unnatural!  And I used to like deep red lipsticks......!! As for jewellery, haven't tried any except for some discreet earrings now and again.  Obviously no rings or bracelets because of alcoholic gel as I don't know what it will do to jewellery[8-)] Aren't we going to have lots of fun when we put on our make-up again?  At least let's hope it's fun and not horror[:-))]

Catalpa, you are right, I have very few rides but just a sort of unevenness of colour which would be better once I have been out in the sun a bit (using APF factor 30 or more) and have acquired a light tan. I WOULD like to try the primer however.  OTOH, maybe a good foundation un peu doré will do the trick. I have also acquired a Zéro Defaut Base Lèvres matifiante et longue tenue for the lips but, as masks are still de rigueur, I am not using it yet! Looking on line for make-up for older women, I have come across a site called Fabulous Fifties but that is not much use to me.  What I need is one called Stunning Seventies.  Hey, you never know, I might feel tempted to start such a site myself[:D][:P]

Manon, used to do as you:  print off same form year on year and send off. Alas since last year have felt pressured to do it on line and so I grasped the nettle[+o(]  Don't remember having this problem though.  Don't remember being asked incessantly for information on an assurance vie that we have never had. Now, I have filled in all the accounts but am unable to finish the déclaration because I am blocked from proceeding  because, yes, I am unable to provide details of an assurance vie that neither of us has! This is pure kafka[6]

Chessie, it's not easy for anyone to help you if you just say I don't understand this form!  It's the main déclaration and someone would need to have access to all your personal info in order to be able to help you fill in the form. Try and compose yourself sufficiently to go through the form, line by line and section by section and then, if you come across something you don't understand, come and ask, quoting what section and what line.  Easier for people to help if they know what specific thing you don't understand and can't fill. Says I who have come a cropper on the blasted form 3916.....uuuggghhh.....But don't mind me, I won't even dream of personally trying to help you but many others will but you do need to be specific about what you need to know. bon courage!

Could it, remotely, be to do with people letting airb&bs, not declaring payments and perhaps letting their pads to "undesirables"?

Fascinating!  Thank you, Norman and Catalpa for your further elucidation on this subject[:)] When it comes down to er basics or even foundation (!), it's surprised me how many words are necessary, not to mention things you need to do, to present a semblance of a healthy face to the world. So, primer becomes either l'anti-cernes or base de maquillage, according to whether you use Norman's link or Catalpa's.  Fine, except I then have to look up what cernes are[:-))]  Rides I understand but CERNES.......? Ok, have decided on base de maquillage, foundation and powder, a light dusting of blush or rouge.  OTOH, I believe I have some concealer somewhere so might try that except there might be too many blemishes to conceal!  Maybe I'll just "embrace" (seems to be an in-word) my blemishes, practise distanciation at all times so not actually embracing anyone literally, and let my natural joie de vivre and undoubted good looks carry the day[:D][:P] 

Yes, Loiseau, I've heard of fond de teint and, if I get no further replies, I will give that a try. Oh, what joy it will be not to have the confinement face and to wear other clothes than leggings and fleeces[:)]

Time to go out a bit again and maybe even be eating out, who knows? So time too for getting out the glad rags and putting on a bit of slap.  Don't know about you but the months of confinement have taken its toll.  My complexion has taken a battering (not helped by being able to see every little defect since the cataract operations[:-))]) and I would like to buy some new stuff to try. I read and hear that nowadays people put on "primer to even out skin tone" before applying foundation and the other bits like lipstick, etc. So I need to know what this "primer" is, what it's called in French, whether it's the same as what we used to call foundation? Many thanks.

Thinking a bit more about it, my devious brain tells me that it might be an ideal excuse if you don't want to acceuilir someone?. Would love to have you for the month of August but, alas, I have been unable to get the maire to give their permission?

les bras m'en tombent.....[:-))]

At last the sun is out today after several days of rain.  I saw these cougourdons on a tv programme yesterday and thought I'd give you a laugh today.  You cannot but be joyful when you see and hear these[:D] [url]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GUl65vFRd1A[/url]

What's happened to civilised discussion and good-natured agreement to a difference of opinion?  It seems that all the lockdown restrictions have made for some bad tempers and bad manners?[6] Edit:  nomoss, that's a graphic description, I swear I can smell l'odeur affreuse from here[:D]

I thought that was an ingenious suggestion, pomme. So I tried and confirmed all the bank accounts all over again.  And then, I pretended to fill in an assurance vie contract.  But it got complicated when it asked what I was insured against.  I wrote Death, yes, and made up a date when it was supposed to have started.  But the questions went on, how long does it last, and what are your vital statistics....well, actually not the last one but my powers of inventiveness did not extend to filling a whole page of lies in a credible manner because I have no knowledge of these assurance vies. Have to do your research first if you are going to make up a load of ****?[:D] Worth a try though, might have worked if I had half of Boris Johnson's inventiveness[:P]

Pomme, I am throwing in the sponge.  Tried ringing my local office, my departmental office, my regional office.  They all seem to be closed exceptionellement until next week. Tried sending another message through my messagerie but all it said was that, on account of a technical error, the message could not be sent and would I re-try later? Will now try to enjoy my birthday and the weekend even though the weather is rubbish and live again to re-try next week.  Thanks again for all your efforts.

Oh pomme, thank you for your patience and for coming back.  I will let you know how I make out[:)]

Someone from our village, an English woman, told me today that she'd sold her house.  Said she was having viewings everyday and the buyer made her 3 offers in total.  She refused the first and second offers and this time the buyer has offered her practically the asking price.  Plus, it's only taken her 4 months to sell.....that is fast by our standard.